Mary Ellen Tracy, who was convicted of prostitution for practicing a religion that preaches absolution through sex, has been told not to return to work as a volunteer docent at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall. The Canyon Country mother of eight said she was removed from the volunteer roster Dec. 17 after being told by park officials that publicity surrounding her work there was hurting the park and upsetting some of the parents of schoolchildren who had field trips scheduled.

The plot of land along the Los Angeles River is surrounded by a barbed-wire fence and covered with weeds as tall as a child. Underground chemical storage tanks have been dug up and discarded. Graffiti-covered remnants of a factory have been cleared away. Nearby, an empty warehouse stands facing the river. For years this land--where Slauson Avenue crosses the Los Angeles River in Maywood--was dedicated to manufacturing: household detergents, roofing compounds and petroleum products.

The stage is set for Friday's grand reopening of 71-year-old Littlerock Dam, a drama that rewrote history, took two years to produce, cost ticket-buyers a whopping $20 million and is almost certain to play to enthusiastic audiences. The script was written by the state of California, which for more than half a century has demanded that the multiple-arch dam--one of 17 built in the West during the early 1900s--be reinforced to prevent its collapse in an earthquake.

The last few days of brilliant sunshine brought relief from more than drenching rains and gloomy skies: The dry weather also enabled Los Angeles County health officials to reopen all but one of the beaches that had been closed because of storm-related sewage spills. Department of Health Services officials said only Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey remained closed Saturday.

If you plan to spend the day on a Los Angeles County trail this weekend, you'll need something besides sunscreen and a water bottle. You'll need a permit. After much political wrangling, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has finally begun enforcing the controversial fee system adopted last fall. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians now are required to buy a $23 annual permit--or a $6 three-day pass--for the right to wander through the 330-mile network of trails.

Mary Ellen Tracy, who was convicted of prostitution for practicing a religion that preaches absolution through sex, has been told not to return to work as a volunteer docent at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall. The Canyon Country mother of eight said she was removed from the volunteer roster on Dec. 17 after being told by park officials that publicity surrounding her work there was hurting the park and upsetting some of the parents of schoolchildren that had field trips scheduled.

The last few days of brilliant sunshine brought relief from more than drenching rains and gloomy skies: The dry weather also enabled Los Angeles County health officials to reopen all but one of the beaches that had been closed because of storm-related sewage spills. Department of Health Services officials said only Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey remained closed Saturday.

A $319-million ballot measure to buy open space, improve parks and provide new recreation facilities across Los Angeles County won broad public support Thursday, but the Board of Supervisors delayed until Tuesday a final vote to place the parks issue on the November ballot.

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson on Tuesday urged repeal of a controversial new $23 annual fee charged to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians who use county trails. Bernson asked the City Council to pass a resolution opposing the fee and to notify the County Board of Supervisors of its stand. The council will vote on the measure next Tuesday. The cash-strapped county last fall approved the plan to charge for use of its 330 miles of trails. The program began Jan.

County officials conceded Tuesday that they have met with little success in persuading businesses to support an "Adopt-a-Trail" program to maintain county parks, and indicated that a controversial fee for trail use by hikers, bikers and equestrians is likely. Los Angeles County supervisors said they hope to make a final decision Tuesday on whether to institute the program or enforce a recently enacted $23 annual fee for park users.

Attempting to lure dollars from bass anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts, Los Angeles County is considering a privatization plan that would more than double entrance fees at a portion of Castaic Lake, one of the most popular fishing holes in Southern California.

A $319-million ballot measure to buy open space, improve parks and provide new recreation facilities across Los Angeles County won broad public support Thursday, but the Board of Supervisors delayed until Tuesday a final vote to place the parks issue on the November ballot.

A $319-million ballot measure to buy open space, improve parks and provide new recreation facilities across Los Angeles County won broad public support Thursday, but the Board of Supervisors delayed until Tuesday a final vote to place the parks issue on the November ballot.

In a plan to save El Cariso Park, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon proposed Friday that the city take over the sprawling regional recreation area in Sylmar before it is closed by the county this fall. "This park is absolutely vital to the northeast San Fernando Valley," Alarcon said. Alarcon and others made appeals to save the park during budget hearings held by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The stage is set for Friday's grand reopening of 71-year-old Littlerock Dam, a drama that rewrote history, took two years to produce, cost ticket-buyers a whopping $20 million and is almost certain to play to enthusiastic audiences. The script was written by the state of California, which for more than half a century has demanded that the multiple-arch dam--one of 17 built in the West during the early 1900s--be reinforced to prevent its collapse in an earthquake.

If you plan to spend the day on the trails in a Los Angeles County park this weekend, you'll need something besides sunscreen and a water bottle--you'll need a permit. After much political wrangling, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has finally begun enforcing the controversial fee system adopted last fall. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians are now required to buy a $23 annual permit--or a $6 three-day pass--for the right to wander through the 330-mile network of trails.

Motorists passing through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area now can obtain park information in English and Spanish through radio messages transmitted on AM frequency 1610, officials with the National Park Service said.

After more than a month of delays, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved $6 passes for hikers, bikers and horse riders who want to use county trails for up to three days. The board's action, effective Monday, also reinstated the $23 annual trail passes required for use of the 330 miles of county trails. The passes were approved last year and took effect Jan.

Drive beyond the grit and graffiti of the freeways and head into the heart of the Angeles National Forest, up California 39 as it twists and turns above Azusa and leads to a mountain sanctuary of bears, hawks, mountain lions and wild trout. Barely five minutes from the freeway, at the boundary of the 693,000-acre forest, a burnt-orange graffiti sample on a granite wall of San Gabriel Canyon says "HIP."

If you plan to spend the day on a Los Angeles County trail this weekend, you'll need something besides sunscreen and a water bottle. You'll need a permit. After much political wrangling, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has finally begun enforcing the controversial fee system adopted last fall. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians now are required to buy a $23 annual permit--or a $6 three-day pass--for the right to wander through the 330-mile network of trails.